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jorats

Loving rats since 2002.
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
45,196
Location
Northeastern Ontario
There are several types of rat blocks, some better then others.

Harlan Teklad 2014 (can be ordered online in the US, harder to find in Canada. Can be found at U of Guelph)

Product Description
2014 Teklad Global 14% Protein Rodent Maintenance Diet is designed and manufactured with high quality ingredients. 2014 is a fixed formula, nutritionally balanced, non-autoclavable diet containing a minimum of 14% protein and 3.5% fat. Scientific publications report that low fat, low protein diets promote longevity and normal body weight in rodents. 2014 does not contain alfalfa or soybean meal, thus minimizing the occurrence of natural phytoestrogens. Absence of animal protein and fish meal eliminates the presence of nitrosamines.

Ingredients—Wheat middlings, ground wheat, ground corn, corn gluten meal,
calcium carbonate, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DLmethionine,
choline chloride, niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine
hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid,
menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E
supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous
sulfate, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium
iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate.
Standard Product
Crude Protein 14.5%
Crude Oil (Fat) 4.0%
Crude Fiber 4.5%

Harlan Teklad 2018

Ingredients—Ground wheat, ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean
meal, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast,
dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DL-methionine, choline chloride,
niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine
mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite
complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12
supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide,
manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate,
chromium potassium sulfate, kaolin.
Standard Product

Crude Protein 18.8%
Crude Oil (Fat) 6.0%
Crude Fiber 3.8%

Oxbow Regal Rat (Can be bought at vet clinics and online, some stores are starting to carry them)

Oxbow Regal Rat is a low-fat, nutritionally-balanced food that improves the quality of life for adult pet rats without causing life-threatening obesity. The complete, stabilized kibble contains 100% of a rat’s daily essential nutrients and prevents selective feeding, common with seed and fruit-based diets. Regal Rat was formulated by a team of professionals in the laboratory animal science, zoo nutrition and wildlife nutrition fields.

Whole Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Wheat Bran, Wheat, Soybean Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Soybean Hulls, Monocalcium Phosphate, Flax Seed Meal, (Linseed), Brewers Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Wheat Germ Meal, Methionine DL, Salt, Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement (tocopherol), Vitamin C Supplement (Ascorbic Acid), Colloidal Silica, Riboflavin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Pyrodoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavorings
Guaranteed Analysis

* Crude Protein min 14.00%
* Crude Fat min 4.00%
* Crude Fiber max 10.00%

Mazuri Rodent Breeder 6F (sold at Ren's in Ontario)

A diet designed for feeding rats and mice which are maintained in breeding colonies and intended for use as food for other species such as reptiles.

Ingredients: ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, ground oats, porcine animal fat preserved with BHA, cane molasses, wheat midlings, dehydrated alfalfa meal, ground wheat, ground soybean hulls, calcium carbonate, fish meal, salt, brewers dried yeast, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, dried beet pulp, wheat germ, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (vitamin K) pyridoxine hydrochloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried yucca schidigera extract, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, dl-alpha tocophyrel acetate, (vitamin E) calcium pantothenate, vitamin b12 supplement, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin A acetate, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate.

protein 16%
fat 6%
fiber 6%

Living World Extrusion (Can be found at Pet Valu and Petsmart in Ontario, some Zellers and some Walmarts)

Ingredients: ground corn, ground wheat, soybean meal, wheat middlings, yeast culture, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, lecithin, dried corn fermentation, soluble product, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, salt, clcium propionate (preservative) DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract, rosemary extract, L-lysine, yucca schidigera extract, cobalt sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide sodium selenite, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin Z supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K) calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement.

protein: 16%
Fat: 4%
Fiber: 4.5%

I found another rat food... not sure yet how I like it. I'm trying it out on my young boys as it is a little higher in protein.

Rodent Diet by Cuisine (Can be found at Pet Valu in Ontario)

Ingredients: Ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean meal, fish meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, cane molasses, dehydrated alfalfa meal, salt, DLmethionine, L-lysine, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, vitamin A acetate, cholecalciferol, pyridoxine hydrochloride, magnesium oxide, biotin, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, riboflavin, vitamin B-12 supplement, folic acid, nicotinic acid, thiamin mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 18.0%, Crude Fat 5.0%, Crude Fibre 5.0%

Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse and Rat ( I believe this one is not so bad except for the high protein but if you don't have anything else in your area, I'd stick with this one.)

KAYTEE® Forti-Diet® Pro Health™ is a Nutritionally Enhanced Daily Diet that provides the essential nutrients your pet needs for a long, healthy life.

With DHA OMEGA-3 - Supports Heart, Brain & Visual Functions

Rich in Natural Antioxidants - For general health and immune support

Probiotics & Prebiotics -Natural ingredients that aid in digestive health

Naturally Preserved - For ideal freshness

Rich in fiber - Essential for proper function of the gastrointestinal tract

Yucca – For odor control

Promotes a soft, healthy coat
Ingredients:
Ground Yellow Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Wheat, Ground Oats, Ground Peanuts, Sun-cured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Flax Seed, Dried Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Corn Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ground Rice, Salt, Soy Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Beet Pulp, Whole Cell Algae Meal (source of Omega-3 DHA), Fructooligosaccharide, DL-Methionine, Yeast Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Ferrous Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Copper Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Natural Flavoring. Allergen information: Contains peanuts and/or other tree nuts.
Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.)...........21.0%
Crude Fat (min.)..................4.5%
Crude Fiber (max.)...............7.0%

There's also Mazuri Rodent diet with 23% protein and 6.5% fat. (Can be found at Petsmart)
LabDiet/Purina rat chow/PMI Nutrition International with 22% protein and 4% fat. (Can be found at several feed stores)
similar ingredients to all the others above.

For UK members: (thanks Ryelle!!)

SUPREME SCIENCE SELECTIVE RAT FOOD

Supreme Petfoods have developed a mono-component fully extruded diet, Supreme Science Selective Rat, with the consideration of both animal and owner, high quality, convenient feeding can be achieved without compromise. Its unique vegetarian formulation, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids, assists cardiovascular and circulatory efficiency. Additionally, it promotes the growth of beneficial friendly bacteria within the digestive system, and its unique shape and texture assists dental hygiene through the abrasive action required to chew, crunch and grind. Supreme® Science Selective Rat contains 100% natural ingredients including apple, known for its antioxidant benefits and blackcurrant, an excellent source of natural vitamins.

Ingredients and Nutritional values to come.

Burgess Supa Rat

Suparat Rat Royale is a Suparatastic all-in-one meal created especially for your pet rats. Each delicious nugget contains the perfect combination of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

And the nuggets prevent selective feeding – unlike a muesli-style food where rats can pick out some bits and leave the rest, leading to an imbalanced diet. Suparat Rat Royale provides a tasty, balanced, healthy diet with added minerals to help maintain beautiful coat colour, and prebiotics to encourage friendly bacteria for a healthy digestion.

Ingredients:
Wheat, Maize, Peas, Beet Pulp, Soya, Chicken Meal, Poultry Fat, Monocalcium Phosphate, Salt, Fructo-oligosaccharides (0.3%), Methionine.

Nutritional Values
Fibre 3.5%
Protein 16%
Oil 6%

Pets at Home Rat Nuggets

Nugget Food for Rats by Pets at Home is a complementary rat food containing a balance of ingredients providing:-

o Vitamins;
o Minerals;
o Fibre;
o Chicken Protein;
o Profeed - boosts your rat’s digestion and general health.

Rats, just like us can be fussy eaters and can be prone to eating only the parts of a traditional muesli food that they like, which can result in your rat not receiving a balanced diet. Pets at Home Rat Food Nuggets are a great choice, with all the essential nutrition of a muesli food blended into one tasty nugget.

Ingredients:

Wheat, Maize, Peas, Soya, Chicken Meal, Poultry Fat, Dicalcium Phosphate, Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Typical Analysis:

Moisture 9%, Protein 16%, Oils and Fats 4.5%, Fibre 3.5%, Ash 4%

BEAPHAR CARE PLUS RAT

The Beaphar Care+ range is the first, totally complete, super premium food available for the small pet, offering the highest possible quality and formulation known to man. The high quality proteins and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids ensures that an animal will have a healthy and long life with out experiencing the diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. The foods also contain prebiotics and Yucca extracts and the chelated minerals improve absorption and supply to the body.
Being developed in cooperation with veterinary surgeons, dieticians and leading rodent experts this food has to be the very best available on the market today.

International

Supreme Science Selective block

Ingredients:
Wheat, Soya, Barley, Oats, Soya oil, Apple (2.5%), Blackcurrant (2.5%), Limestone flour, Methionine, Lysine, Salt, Vitamins and Minerals. Preserved with EC additives

Typical Analysis:
Protein 14%, Oil 4.0%, Fibre 4.0%

Burgess Suparat
3.5% fibre, 16% protein, 6% oil, 4% ash
(if someone can get me the ingredient list, I would appreciate it.)
 
I thought kaytee used a carcinogen as a preservative ... did they change that?
Nice that it includes an DHA OMEGA-3 suppliment.

You forgot Harlan Teklad 2016. :wink:

Nice that they all add vit B12
Thanks for thje info. jorats.
Not planing on switching from Harlan 2014 and oxbow but nice to see all the info. laid out in one place.
 
This is GREAT Jo.... a really good go to, since it is like question #1 on the forum, LOL

I personally will not be 100% happy with a rat diet until they stop including the vitamin k substitutes.
 
Moon said:
I personally will not be 100% happy with a rat diet until they stop including the vitamin k substitutes.

There's got to be a reason why they can't use the real stuff... absorbency? maybe it needs some type of really bad preservative or perhaps the extrusion process does something?
 
This is great Jo! Its good for new people who need some help with diet and stuff and gives them lots of options too. I still have trouble feeding oxbow though.
 
I just wanted to mention here that BHA (found in the Mazuri)/BHT is a known carcinogen in rodent subjects. I don't allow anyone in my family to consume it (it is in most of your cereals), and the FDA is still on the fence about it's affects on humans but it has been proven to cause cancer in rodents. I'll see if I can't find the research on it and post it on here (it might not work cause I have University access but I'll try).
 
Yes, vitamin k3 is a precursor to vitamin k2. But the way bodies metabolize it means that it doesn't get to that stage and in fact stays k3. I don't like it.

Vitamin K occurs naturally in so many items, it shouldn't really have to be added. I have a feeling the reason behind it is cost.
 
It is a cost thing Moon. 'Cause dogs can't synthesize VitK either but high-end brands (like Natura Pet foods) don't add K2 to their foods. It's really sad that they won't put the effort into making some good rat food.
 
From my research, it does state that the body does indeed convert it to K2.
Most animals don't need added vitamin K in their diet but rats do.
 
Here the evidence for BHT/BHA being a very negative factor in the lives of our rats

Abstract
“Transcriptomics was performed to gain insight into mechanisms of food additives butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), curcumin (CC), propyl gallate (PG), and thiabendazole (TB), additives for which interactions in the liver can not be excluded. Additives were administered in diets for 28 days to Sprague-Dawley rats and cDNA microarray experiments were performed on hepatic RNA. BHT induced changes in the expression of 10 genes, including phase I (CYP2B1/2: CYP3A9; CYP2C6) and phase II metabolism (GST mu 2). The CYP2B1/2 and GST expression findings were confirmed by real time RT-PCR, western blotting, and increased GST activity towards DCNB. CC altered the expression of 12 genes. Three out of these were related to peroxisomes (phytanoyl-CoA dioxygenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase; CYP4A3). Increased cyanide insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was observed, suggesting that CC is a weak peroxisome proliferator. TB changed the expression of 12 genes, including CYP1A2. In line, CYP1A2 protein expression was increased. The expression level of five genes, associated with p53 was found to change upon TB treatment, including p53 itself, GADD45 alpha, DN-7, protein kinase C beta and serum albumin. These array experiments led to the novel finding that TB is capable of inducing p53 at the protein level, at least at the highest dose levels employed above the current NOAEL. The expression of eight genes changed upon PG administration. This study shows the value of gene expression profiling in food toxicology in terms of generating novel hypotheses on the mechanisms of action of food additives in relation to pathology. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”

Stierum, R; Conesa, A; Heijne, W; van Ommen, B; Junker, K; Scott, MP; Price, RJ; Meredith, C; Lake, BG; Groten, J. Transcriptome analysis provides new insights into liver changes induced in the rat upon dietary administration of the food additives butylated hydroxytoluene, curcumin, propyl gallate and thiabendazole . 2008. FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY,vol.46,no.8,pp.2616-2628
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In mammals, including rats, dogs and humans, BHA has been shown to be rapidly absorbed, metabolized and excreted (e.g. Ansari & Hendrix 1985; Takizawa et al. 1985; Conning & Phillips 1986;Hirose et al. 1987a,b,c; Verhagen et al. 1989a,b) consequently very low concentrations were detectable in tissues of rats and dogs shortly after application (Takizawa et al. 1985; Verhagen et al. 1989b). The main metabolic fate of BHA is conjugation, primarily resulting in BHA glucuronides and sulphates, and demethylation to tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), whereas qualitative and quantitative differences among species and dosage have been noted (e.g. Hirose et al. 1987b; Verhagen et al. 1989b). To the authors' knowledge, no information on BHA metabolism in fish is available in the published literature. Furthermore, the effects of BHA on metabolism and health have not been investigated in fish, whereas a multitude of publications exist for mammals (for reviews, see Iverson 1995; Whysner & Williams 1996;Williams et al. 1999). The properties appear contradictory as BHA has previously been classified as an antioxidant, a pro-oxidant, an anticarcinogen, a carcinogen, and in models with known carcinogens both as a tumour promoter and a tumour inhibitor. With regard to food safety, the tumour-promoting and carcinogenic properties are the main issues of interest (Whysner & Williams 1996; Iverson 1999; Williams et al. 1999).

D. PETRI, K. HAMRE & A.-K LUNDEBYE. Retention of the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets. 2008. National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway


For me there is more evidence to avoid BHT than BHA however with all these scientists so on the fence about the cancer causing or cancer figting properties of this synthetic preservative I know that I will be keeping it out of my body and that of my animals.
 
EquineCanineFeline has started stocking the Beaphar XtraVital Care+ Premium Rat Food. It's the only place i have seen stocking it so far and you aren't supporing animal sales when you buy this product from them (they work from a warehouse and sell only animal products).
I still can't find the nutritional info on the product. I tried e-mailing Beaphar before for it and got no reply. I might send EquineCanineFeline an email and ask them if they can send me it.

But, if you want to atleast give it a try (i haven't, so i dont know what its like.. if anyone has, feel free to comment):
http://www.equinecaninefeline.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1722
 
Apparently CareFRESH is making rat/mouse food now too: http://www.carefresh.com/products/pet-f ... -and-rats/

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude protein (min) 18.0%
Crude fiber (max) 10.0%
Crude fat (min) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 10.0%
Ash (max) 10.0%
Omega 3 (min) 0.1%
Omega 6 (min) 0.9%
Available in 2 lb. and 4.5 lb. bags

■No artificial colors
■No fillers
■No animal by-products
■Encourages tooth wear to help support dental health
■Anise helps support your pet’s immune system
■Amino acids for healthy growth and development
■Vitamin E antioxidant helps support healthy circulatory system

Ingredients: Corn, Soybean Meal, Wheat Mill Run, Alfalfa Hay Suncured , Oat Groats, Whole Wheat, Ground Barley, Yeast Culture, Yeast Extract (Source of 1, 3, 1, 6 Beta Glucans), Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sodium Bentonite, Lignin Sulfonate, Flax Seed (Source of Omega 3), Soybean Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Source of Viatmin E), L-Lysine, Anise Ground, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Magnesium Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Lecithin, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Magnesium Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Colbalt Carbonate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Thaimin Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hychloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide.
 
sausage4ever said:
Apparently CareFRESH is making rat/mouse food now too: http://www.carefresh.com/products/pet-f ... -and-rats/

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude protein (min) 18.0%
Crude fiber (max) 10.0%
Crude fat (min) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 10.0%
Ash (max) 10.0%
Omega 3 (min) 0.1%
Omega 6 (min) 0.9%
Available in 2 lb. and 4.5 lb. bags

■No artificial colors
■No fillers
■No animal by-products
■Encourages tooth wear to help support dental health
■Anise helps support your pet’s immune system
■Amino acids for healthy growth and development
■Vitamin E antioxidant helps support healthy circulatory system

Ingredients: Corn, Soybean Meal, Wheat Mill Run, Alfalfa Hay Suncured , Oat Groats, Whole Wheat, Ground Barley, Yeast Culture, Yeast Extract (Source of 1, 3, 1, 6 Beta Glucans), Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sodium Bentonite, Lignin Sulfonate, Flax Seed (Source of Omega 3), Soybean Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Source of Viatmin E), L-Lysine, Anise Ground, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Magnesium Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Lecithin, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Magnesium Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Colbalt Carbonate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Thaimin Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hychloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide.


oh nice i do think i saw it when at the pet store the other day; i could not get a hold of the rat blocks i have been feeding my crew so had to go to pet store for extrusions.

i wonder if its any good.
 
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